A young American finding his way in Spain

In the winter of 2016, while preparing for another season with Axeon Hagens Berman home in California, I suddenly got a call from my team manager. He said that the Spanish Pro-Continental team Caja Rural – Seguros RGA was interested in signing me. I was only 21 years old at the time and I really didn’t expect such an offer. However, I was at a point in my life where I was ready to try something new I thought to myself “why not”. I had already been training hard, so I was ready to take on the new season.

I flew over to Spain in January and from then on, it was all hands on deck. Not just training-wise but also learning how to speak the language and how to cope with the cold and rainy weather, something I wasn’t really familiar with living in San Diego, California.

Since my mom is Mexican and as it’s not unusual to see Spanish signs in San Diego, I thought I already had a basic knowledge of the language. However, when I arrived here, I quickly realized how little I actually knew. All I could say was stuff like “Me llamo Justin”, “Bicicleta” and “Comida”.

Exploring the Basque Country. Here in Zumaia, Guipúzcoa also known from the movie Ocho Apellidos Vascos.

The team was really great in helping me out with a place to live. They have two team houses near Pamplona, one for the U23 team and one for the professional team. I moved in at the end of February. You often hear these horror stories about team houses being overly crowded but this one is really nice. I lived there with my teammate at the time, Chris Butler, who’s also American. He was great to have around as he has been in the game for a while and could teach me a lot. This year, I live with my new teammates Mauricio Moreira from Uruguay and Nelson Soto from Colombia. It has been really good for my Spanish since they don’t speak much English, if any at all.

“I already feel like a bit of a road captain within the team”

Even though I’m only 22 now, I feel like I’m the experienced one in the house, which is a little bit weird. I’ve only lived here for a year but on the other hand, I’ve also been in Europe a lot with the national team doing a bunch of different races for three or four years now. It’s interesting because many of the young Spanish riders here have only raced in Spain, so when we go to races in other countries they always ask me for advice.

Actually, I already feel like a bit of a road captain within the team now. I didn’t expect that to happen so quickly, but I guess the sports directors have a good eye for those kinds of things. Sometimes, it’s difficult with my Spanish though. At the pre-race meetings, I understand pretty much everything but it’s still a challenge to get all they say on the radio during the race. However, that can also be difficult just in English. Regardless, I feel much more comfortable speaking and interacting during the races compared to last year.

Out training with Nelson Soto, Gonzalo Serrano and Mauricio Moreira.

Being a kid from California, the cold and harsh winter we have had here in Pamplona, and to some extend still experience, has been hard to overcome. It was almost a rare view actually to see the sun and some blue sky the other day. I really miss the sun. A few weeks ago, when I had a rest day and it was raining and everything was closed, I hit a really low point. I was missing home.

I’ve been trying to find activities to do here when I’m done with my daily training sessions. I’ve bought a guitar and that’s really been helpful but the problem is that it doesn’t get me out of the house. It would be great to find something to do outside in the afternoons. I’ve also been reading a lot. Actually, I just finished a book of Hemingway called “The Sun Also Rises”. It’s about the San Fermin bulls festival in Pamplona, which is pretty cool because he talks about all these different landmarks, towns and old streets around here that I now know too.

I really like to go into the old town in the evenings. Either to eat or just to look around. I live in a small town called Olloki, which is just outside of Pamplona. It’s really pretty here. It’s quiet and it kind of reminds me of Orange County in California. It’s really well-gloomed, it got playgrounds and a lot of families are walking around. There is a park area where I really like to hang out. You always have great sunsets there. Sometimes however, it’s almost too tranquilo here.

Photos: Justin Oien, private.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about moving to Girona. At the beginning of my Spanish adventure, I wanted to live here in Pamplona out of pride and I wanted to learn the language. I knew it was going to be hard but I also knew that I could do it. However, now, I think moving to Girona could be great for my social life. Maybe find a girlfriend, meet people from other teams and just expand my network within the cycling community.

Racing-wise, my next big goal is the Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour where I won a stage last year. I really want to do well there again this time. In fact, I’m very focused on doing well in all the races I do within the next couple of months. It’s been hard with all the cold weather this year, but I’m kind of proud of myself. A California kid doesn’t really train in this weather very often. Now, I know I’ve done my homework and I’m ready and very eager to show what I’m capable of.